28 September 2012

A Diamond Jubilee portrait of the Queen was unveiled at the National Portrait Gallery in Canberra, Australia. The portrait by Australian artist Ralph Heimans is entitled "The Coronation Theatre, Westminster Abbey: A Portrait of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II".

This is breathtaking. The choice to paint her in her robe but without a crown on the spot she was crowned is genius: it allows her to have this humble and pensive look, as though she's looking back on the 60 years since and forward to the next all at once. What an impressive work, made all the more impressive when you learn that the artist had just one hour with the Queen total, and that one hour was in daylight at Buckingham Palace. A truly stunning and powerful portrait.

(And, since we are a jewel blog, I must note that he's managed to bring a tremendous amount of light to the diamonds, which is no easy feat.)

The Coronation Necklace and Earrings are an important set in the Queen's collection not just because of overall diamond weight but because of historical significance.

The Coronation Necklace

The necklace was created for Queen Victoria in 1858 and has been worn by queens for every coronation after Queen Victoria's death, hence the name. It currently has 26 stones: 25 in the necklace itself, plus the 22.48 carat Lahore Diamond as a pendant.

The Coronation Earrings

The matching earrings were also made Queen Victoria in 1858 from reused stones - the pear drops were originally side stones in an armlet with the famous Koh-i-Noor diamond and were also used in a setting for the Timur Ruby Necklace. The two drops are slightly different sizes; one is about 12 carats, the other about 7.

The Queen usually wears the set together for formal events like the State Opening of Parliament and state dinners, or for portraits.Read more at Order of Splendor.

24 September 2012

The Queen, accompanied by the Duke of Edinburgh, opened the University of Aberdeen's new library. Her Majesty also reopened the Aberdeen City Council building at Marischal College.

Aaaaand she's back! The Balmoral break is ending. Our Lilibet is getting her feet wet with a couple Scottish engagements before heading back south, and she's brought out one of her most trusty brooches for the occasion. (Click here for a video.)

23 September 2012

As time allows, I add events and jewels worn in the past by the Queen.
I'm currently working my way back through the 2012 events which occurred
before the blog started. These posts are dated back to when they
actually occurred, so they don't appear on the front page of the blog.
In case you missed them, here are the latest past event and jewel
updates:

19 September 2012

As time allows, I add events and jewels worn in the past by the Queen. I'm currently working my way back through the 2012 events which occurred before the blog started. These posts are dated back to when they actually occurred, so they don't appear on the front page of the blog. In case you missed them, here are the latest past event and jewel updates:

12 September 2012

As time allows, I add events and jewels worn in the past by the Queen. I'm currently working my way back through the 2012 events which occurred before the blog started. These posts are dated back to when they actually occurred, so they don't appear on the front page of the blog. In case you missed them, here are the latest past event and jewel updates:

For her Golden Jubilee in 2002, the Queen was presented with this brooch from the Braemar Royal Highland Society. Made from platinum, white gold, and 24 carat gold on silver in the shape of an eagle's feather, it features a Jubilee stamp on the back.

Since then, the brooch usually gets one outing a year: for the annual Braemar Gathering in Scotland, which is always one of Her Majesty's most animated appearances.